POCKLINGTON RUFC again stages Yorkshire’s oldest rugby union seven-a-side tournament when the 60th John Smith's Pock 7s get underway at Percy Road on Good Friday.

The event - which has grown from humble beginnings into one of the county's major rugby occasions and Pocklington’s biggest sporting festival - is in its diamond jubilee year, having been held every Good Friday since 1959.

And for the first time, this year’s Pock 7s has been included as a qualifying tournament for the Rugby Football Union’s national 24/Sevens series, where sides can go on to regional play-offs with a grand final at Bath in July.

Many rugby exiles make their way back home for the annual Easter reunion at Percy Road, some travelling from abroad for the weekend.

The 2018 Pock 7s again contains a mixture of local clubs, invitation outfits and teams from further afield battling it out in the main competition and plate. Included is a strong entry of sides from North and East Yorkshire.

There are seven former winners taking part, including the current holders, Leeds Beckett University, and the 2016 winners Oxfam Crusaders from Norfolk.

Local Warter-based livestock and poultry business will play as Warrendale Wagyu this year as they defend the Plate, while the 2016 Plate winners, St Peter’s old boys York Saints, have rebranded themselves as the Three Bears Foundation VII, raising monies for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Another team, Wild Turkeys, is run by former York centre Richard Downey and comprise other ex-York and Knaresborough players now dispersed across the country.

Teams from distance include Richmond Renegades, from London.

The Good Friday action gets underway at 1pm. More than six hours of non-stop sevens rugby follows with the final scheduled for 6.40pm.

Pock 7s Draw

Round 1: A Beverley v Malton & Norton (1pm), B Old Pocklingtonians v Old Hymerians (1.20pm), C Woldgate OB v Hull Ionians (1.40pm), D Selby v Brookfield (2pm), E Wild Turkeys v Pocklington Porkers (2.20pm), F Three Bears Foundation (aka York Saints) v Hammerheads (2.40pm), G Driffield v Goodemanham (3pm), H Goole v Sandbach (3.20pm).

Round 2: Northern Exiles v Winner A (1.40pm), Queens Own Yeomanry v Winner B (2pm), Manchester Metropolitan Uni v Winner C (2.20pm), Pocklington v Winner D (2.40pm), Richmond Regegades v Winner E (3pm), Oxfam Crusaders v Winner F (3.20pm), Warrendale Wagyu v Winner G (3.40pm), Leeds Becket Uni v Winner G (4pm).